I need help with tech specs for Audacity

maxgal · Post by **maxgal** » June 9th, 2019, 4:21 pm

Hey everyone,
I am slowly getting into this.
Emphasis on "slowly."
So I have my Blue Yeti microphone plugged into my MacBook Pro, and have opened Audacity.
Now I am trying to set the tech steps in Audacity.
I have watched the video on setting tech specs, but have a problem right off the bat:
The first step is to click on "edit" and scroll down to "preferences."
But I don't have the "file-edit-select-view"-etc. toolbar at the top of (and within) the Audacity screen like in the video..
I do have what looks like that toolbar at the top of my Mac screen, but when I click on "edit," it doesn't include that entire list of items. It has only a few things listed, like "delete" and "paste" and "remove special"-etc. -- and "preferences" is not there.
I have tried clicking on "view" and then clicking on various things to adjust or reset the toolbar, but nothing works.
...help...?

lymiewithpurpose · Post by **lymiewithpurpose** » June 9th, 2019, 4:48 pm

Hi there! It seems that Phil's version of Audacity must be an older version (this video was filmed a while ago). I believe if you click on 'Audacity' in the top left you should see the 'preferences' option. Hopefully this helps!

Post by **TriciaG** » June 9th, 2019, 4:57 pm

Try command-P or apple-P.

maxgal · Post by **maxgal** » June 9th, 2019, 5:16 pm

Ah.
So I started this time with "Audacity" and...
I got through the "preferences" items (1-4).
Now I've got to "file" and then "export" -- but none of the items under "export" (of which MP3 is the first item) can be selected; they are all light grey.
??

Post by **TriciaG** » June 9th, 2019, 5:19 pm

You have to record something in order to export it.

You can just hit the Record button for a second or so, then stop it. That will allow you to get into the Export menu.

maxgal · Post by **maxgal** » June 9th, 2019, 5:29 pm

O!
I thought this list of setup steps was for "setup only" -- i.e., setting the specs in anticipation of exporting later.
So I'll circle back to it warily in the near future.
Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly.

maxgal · Post by **maxgal** » June 9th, 2019, 6:04 pm

I think I've got it now...

Post by **philchenevert** » June 9th, 2019, 10:05 pm

I didn't read all of this but I did an updated version of Tech Specs video just two months ago so it should be kinda current. I'll check later but gotta go to bed now. hope it worked out OK.